Folding-machine for collars, &amp;c.



No. 889,858.'- PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. G. REEGB.

FOLDING MACHINE FOR COLLARS, &0. APPLICATION 11.21) NOV. 9. 1900. RENEWED FEB. 20, 1 903.

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No. 889,858. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. e. REECB.

FOLDING MACHINE FOR GOLLARS, 8:0.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1900. RENEWED FEB. 20, 1903. I

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FOLDING MACHINE FOR GOLLARS, 8w.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.-

GEORGE REEGE, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO REEOE FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

FOLDING-MACHINE FOR GOLLARS, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed November 9, 1900, Serial No. 35,942. Renewed February 20, 1903. Serial No. 144,329.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE REEOE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Wollaston, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Machines for Collars, &c., of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an improvement in collar and cuff folding machines and has reference more particularly to the collapsible or retractable former or die, both in its construction and operation. I have applied my invention to the type of machine shown in my application No. 20,125 filed June 13, 1900, and my invention has for its leading objects the provision of extreme rigidity and mutual supporting strength in the cooperating parts as well as smoothness and facility of move ment, also the provision of special means for folding oblique ended blanks; and the provision of simple mechanism for adjustability to accommodate different sizes without liability of getting out of order or in a wrong position.

The various details of construction and advantages in operation of my invention will be more fully pointed out in the course .of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and illustrations of the preferred embodiment of my invention, and the latter will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents in side elevation sufficient parts of the machine to render my invention intelligible. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the upper portion of the former or die. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof taken on the Figs. 4 to 7 are similar end views of the die and its operative parts showing the successive positions assumed thereby in the process of folding a blank. Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical cross-sections taken respectively on the lines 88 and 99, Fig. 3. Figs. 10 and 11 are horizontal sections showing the lower portion of the die, and illustrating the positions assumed thereby in relation to the receiving bed of the machine. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the shape of die required for a cuff.

It will be understood that the frame A of the machine, bed A, and general supporting and operated by a bell crank (1 connected at one end by a link (i with the projecting end (1 of said arms, and at its other end rovided with a roll d actuated by a cam 6 of the 7 driving shaft, and said die is further actuated by slides d (1 forked at their rear ends (Z so as to be guided by the shaft d as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and having intermediate their ends rolls (Z (Z traveling in and respectively operated by path cams d, (1 of'a cam d driven by the shaft (1. The moving parts of the die D are carried by a frame (1" on rods (Z slidingly mounted in said frame. Said rods are secured to a carrier bar or plate d provided with rojecting friction rolls 61 and also with a bell-crank (Z pivoted thereto at d on the top edge of said plate which stands vertical as is clearly seen in the end views. port for the collapsible or end-wise shifting parts of the die, being recessed at its front side (Z so as to form directing grooves and supporting ledges for slide blocks or carriers The plate d forms a back supoperating freely in slots (Z in the plate at. At their upper edges the carriers (1 are provided with pins or rolls d operating in cam slots (1 provided in bridge pieces d mounted in the frame (1 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, whereby upon forward or backward movement of the rod d and late d the carriers, d, will be contracte or brought towards each other. The general features thus far explained, aside from the special construction of the die itself, are also disclosed in my before-mentioned copending application and are therein claimed. These carriers are themselves grooved similarly to the plate (Z and support the rear and front blade holders d (1, to the lower ends of which are secured forming portions or blades d, (Z of the die.

The carriers (Z are slotted longitudinally I .pins (1 which maintain the two holders against each other and pins 01 projecting from the back holders which support the uper ends of lifting springsd secured at their ower ends at d to the front holders.

Retained by guides 61 on the u per edge of the front holder (1 is a cam-bar having cam surfaces d which cooperate with the rolls d to depress the front holders and front part of the die against the tendency of the springs 01 to raise the same, said bar being 0 erated by engagement therewith at d of t e free end of the bellcrank (Z which is pivoted at d to the slide d An intermediate piece (1 operated by a s ring 01', and otherwise the same as the part ri is preferably provided for filling the gap between the end parts of the former when the latter is adjusted lengthwise for different sizes of blanks.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: The parts come down on the blank in the same re ative position as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, this being the normal or intermediate position of the parts. The front fold having been made by suitable folding blades, not shown, the two slides 11 and d are moved backwardly to the position Fig. 4 by the cams d, 61 thereby causing the cams (Z to retract or draw inwardly the end parts of the die or former, carrying their edges simultaneously from beneath the front edge and end folds, and thereupon the shifting movement to the right of the bar (1 permits the front portion of the former to rise as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the slide 01 is moved forward restoring the die to its intermediate position and expanded condition as indicated in Fig. 6 where the rear ortion of the former is in place for the infol ing of the rear edge of the blank, which 0 eration 1s then accomplished by suitable fol ing blades not shown. The rear fold having been made the die is again collapsed, this time, however, by a forward movement, the parts being thereby brought into the position shown in Fig. 7 where the parts are entirely removed from all the folds of the blank; and from this position the die is raised and while being raised the parts are restored to their normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that although the movements are more or less complicated the mechanism provided by my invention is exceedingly simple and the parts are so ar ranged that they cooperate with each other to give mutual strength and form practically a solid piece as is clearly evident from Figs. 4 to 7. The result is that the die will stand an enormous amount of straining and pounding and wear and is not liable to get out of order.

It may be well to explain that this class of machines is required to work rapidly and under great pressure as the proper folding of the linen and cotton blanks must be accomlished 011 the heated bed before the cloth astime to dry, and moreover the folds must be firmly creased in order that they may maintain their folded condition. It will be apparent therefore that not only must the proper movement be provided but it is equally important that a sufiiciently strong and accurate mechanism be provided capable of accomplishing the peculiar and severe and yet elicate work required of them. Also the construction explained maintains the parts in the same solidity and compactness of position irrespective of their various adjustments, it being understood that these adjustments are not merely advisable but are necessary in this art.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 12 where the blade-like portion of the former or the parts of the die proper are shown in detail in plain view, I will explain further peculiarities of the construction and operation of the former.

Figs. 10 and 11 show the former or die as shaped for folding oblique ended articles such as a collar band, and the only peculiarity of construction needing explanation and which has not yet been explained is the feature of having the ends of the front portions (1 extended rearwardly as indicated at d, so as to encompass or pass around the ends of the rear parts (Z more or less. The purpose of this construction will be understood when it is borne in mind that when the front edge and two ends of the blank are simultaneously infolded, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 10 that the die moving as it does as shown in Figs. 4 to 7 could not get out from beneath the front portion of the end folds if the rear portion (Z of the die extended to the end of the blank because the die having collapsed or moved rearwardly and then again moved forwardly and expanded as shown in Fig. 6, the ends of the rear portion (1 would be beneath the end folds in the same position which they would have occupied during the folding of said end folds and then the rear fold having been made and it being remembered that the ends of the blank are oblique as shown, the forward movement of thedie into the position shown in Fig. 7 would simply move the rear portion (1 along 'beneath'the end folds without e xtricating the ends of said die from beneath said folds.

By making the ends of the front portion d extend rearwardly, however, in the shape shown, all this difficulty is obviated in a simple and practical manner, as the rearward movement of the die to the position shown in Fig. 11 is accompanied by an upward movement of said front portion of the die so that when the die is again restored to its intermediate position, shown in Fig. 6, the front portion of the die is entirely out of engagement with the blank, although the rear portion is in engagement with the blank and is in the required extended position for the infolding of the rear edge of the blank, and yet is so shaped at its ends that when it is subsequently collapsed and moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 7 there is no liability of catching in the end folds and disturbing them.

While I have herein described my invention in all the details thereof as shown, I do not intend to restrict myself thereto, as in many respects my invention is capable of a wide variation in details of construction, and therefore I do not limit myself otherwise than as expressed in the claims.

It will be noticed that certain features herein shown are not claimed, the reason being that they form the subject matter of claims in my aforesaid co-pending application, as for instance the pin-and-slot construction in combination with operating parts for longitudinally contracting the die, and the swinging support carrying the collapsible die and operating means for said die and said su port.

Having cescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising a supporting carrier extending in a vertical plane, and independent holders, provided with the blade portions of the die, all standing on edge and nested solidly and compactly together in mutual contact throughout their length and provided with overhanging portions whereby the pressure strains brought upon the die are mutually sustained by all of said parts.

2. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising a supporting plate, recessed longitudinally at one side, a carrier formed to fit said recess and mounted to slide longitudinally therein, one forming portion of the die being carried and moved with saidcarrier, a second forming portion of the die mounted on but having movement independent of said first mentioned forming portion.

3. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former made up of a plurality of parts mutually movable for contracting lengthwise and for moving up and down dissimultaneously, said arts including a main supporting plate, a p urality of holders, each provided with a forming portion of the die proper, and means for carrying said holders, the said mentioned parts being placed edgewise vertically and held together side by side in a compact form for giving mutual support and solidity to the die in its various operations, and means for independently operating said parts.

4. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising two die holders, forming portions carried by said respective holders, said holders having contacting flat surfaces extending substantially in a vertical plane, a carrier frame for sup orting the die as a whole, a cam bar mounte above one of said holders and provided with cam surfaces, cooperating parts carried by said frame for engaging said cam surfaces, and means for giving relative shifting movement to said cam bar and said 006 erating parts for moving the adjacent hol er and its forming portion vertically,

5. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising a frame, a plate support mounted movably in said frame and depending vertically below the frame, a plurality of holders, each provided with a die portion, and mounted compactly at a vertical side of said plate support, means for shifting said plate supportin said frame, and means for shifting said holders relatively to said plate support.

6. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former containing a movable supporting plate standing vertically and having a. horizontal longitudinal slot, a carrier, a die portion carried thereby, said carrier being held rigidly against said supporting plate, and means movable in said slot for retaining the arts in constant engagement throughout their movements.

7. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former containing a movable supporting plate standing vertically and having a horizontal longitudinal slot, a carrier,

a die portion carried thereby, said carrier being held rigidly against said supporting plate, means movable in said slot for retaining the parts in constant engagement throughout their movements, a second die portion, a holder therefor, said holder having vertical slots, and means occupying said vertical slots for maintaining said holder in constant engagement with the other parts of the die, and permitting vertical movement while preventing longitudinal movement relatively to the adjacent parts.

8. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising a frame, a plurality of die holders, said die holders having adjacent plane surfaces in contact with each other, and means for maintaining said holders in unchanging longitudinal position with relation to each other and permitting them to change in vertical position, means for moving one of said die holders vertically, and means for moving the other of said die holders, and thereby both of them, longitudinally.

9. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former, comprising a supporting plate, a carrier mounted against one side thereof, means maintaining said plate and carrier in constant contact and permitting relative longitudinal movement, a die holder mounted against one side of said carrier and longitudinally adjustable thereon, a second die holder mounted against the outside face of the other die holder, means securing said twoholders together permitting vertical movement by preventing longitudinal movement of one re atively to the other, and a die portion carried by each holder.

10. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising a plurality of parts, including a pair of holders at each end, said holders being maintained constantly together side to side or face to face, thereby preventing spreading or lateral movement of the formlng parts, said pairs bein mounted to move longitudinally towards each other, means for moving one of said holders vertically inde endent of the other, means for moving sai pairs of holders toward and from each other, each of said holders being provided with a forming portion of the die, said forming portions at their ends having an oblique portion for forming the oblique end folds of a blank such for example as a collar band, the outer ends of one of each of the pairs of forming ortions being extended to constitute said ob ique portion, and having its said extended end extending across the end of the adjacent forming portion.

11. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former having a lurality of forming portions arranged to conform to the contour of the blank to be folded, and ineluding at each of the ends of the die a pair of forming portions, one of which has its outer end or forming edge extending in an oblique direction across the end of the adj acent forming portion, and means for contracting said end portions towards each other, and

means for raising the correspondin parts of each of said pairs dis-simultaneous y.

12. In a machine for folding collar blanks and the like, a die orformer comprising a supportin downwardly, and independent holders for the blade portions of the die, all standing on edge and nested solidly and compactly together in mutual contact face to face, means whereby the pressure strains upon the die are mutually sustained by all of its parts, said die blade portions, and mechanism for carrying and moving the said die or former in cooperation with the other parts of the machine.

13. A high s eed ower operated foldin machine for co lar b anks or the like, sai machine comprising in combination an arm fitted so as to be ca able of swinging upwardly and downwar ly, and a die located at the extremity of said swinging arm, the said die comprising expanding and contracting portions or members, means for contractplate, and a carrier, extending ing and expanding the same, the said portions or members fitted and connected for co-action with the other parts through upwardly extending plates, and said lates, the same arranged in face contact wit each other for the purpose of mutual support and to enable the die to-withst and the pounding received in practice.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE REEOE.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. MAXWELL, GEo. W. GREGORY. 

